India registers another loss

By Steve Whiting

CHRISTCHURCH, DEC. 9. For Once it didn't matter too much when India lost to New Zealand in the Cricinfo women's World Cup here on Saturday. It is still in third place, with the same number of points as South Africa and has Ireland and Sri Lanka - two of the weaker sides - to come.

So the chances are it will still finish the round robin stage in second or third spot and therefore avoid hot favourites Australia in the semifinals. And then - who knows? The women's World Cup could be on its way to India at last after Australia and England have carved it up between them the six times it has been played for so far.

There was more good news for India on the day - even if it did lose by 74 runs. Umpires Peter Parker, of Australia, and Peter Williams of New Zealand did not once call either seam bowler Renu Margrete or off spinner Purnima Rau for throwing - as if anyone outside of the Cricinfo commentators themselves, thought they would.

The silence from the umpires as the two Indian bowlers went through 11 innocent overs between them was proof enough that the TV slow motion camera may be able to spot things that the human eye misses - but thank goodness it is still the human eye of the umpire that matters.

What people who make thoughtless accusations don't take into account is the effect they can have on their victims and the Indian camp has been unanimous that Purnima has been badly affected. But as captain Anju Jain said: ``There was no problem today. Now perhaps we can put it behind us.''

Neither Renu nor Purnima looked their normal selves when New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat. Renu bowled only four overs for 21 runs and Rau went for 36 in her seven. But other bowlers fared worse as Anna O'Leary in particular took advantage of a couple of dropped catches. She made 89 off 146 balls, before being stumped in the final over, and shared stands of 92 with Debbie Hockley and 98 with Haidee Tiffen.

Though Chandrakanta Kaul made a brave 59 not out off 111 balls, playing some firm drives through the covers as she did so, New Zealand's total of 224 for five was always likely to be too much for India - especially when it lost opener Anjum Chopra to a brilliant run out by Emily Drumm in the first over.

Nobody was able to put a decent stand together and things like the amazing catch pulled off by Kathryn Ramel, when she bowled a rank full toss to Smitha Harikrishna, did not help India's cause. India ended its 50 overs on a disappointing 150 for seven and must now wait to see if England can catch it by beating Australia.

The scores: New Zealand 224 for five in 50 overs (Anna O'Leary 89, Debbie Hockley 53, Haidee Tiffen 50 not out) bt India 150 for seven in 50 overs (Chandrakanta Kaul 59)

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